Vegetable and fruit washer



June 24, 1952 A. B. MCLAUCHLAN 2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 2a, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 J20 IIHINVENTOR. ARTHUR MC LAUCHLAN l ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 A. B. M LAUCHLANVEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. ARTHUR B.MCLAUCHLAN ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 28, 1948 June 24, 1952 A. B. MCLAUCHLAN2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR. ARTHUR B. MC LAUCHLAN ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 A. B. M LAUCHLAN2,601,411

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Filed Feb. 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR. ARTH UR B. MC LAUCHLAN ATTORNEY June 24, 1952 Filed Feb. 28,1948 A. B. MOLAUCHLAIN VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 N TORINVE ARTHUR 5, MC LAUCHLAN ATTORN EY Patented June 24, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT WASHER Arthur B. McLauchlan,Salem, Oreg.

Application February 28, 1948, Serial No. 11,911

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to washers, such, for example, asWashers for vegetables and fruits and the like, in which the articles tobe washed are required to be moved along the washer while beingsubjected to a washing action by water or other washing liquid.

This invention relates particularly to washers in which the articles tobe washed are totally or partially submerged in the washing water duringpart of the time required for their passage through the washer.

This invention is also especially concerned with the washing of stringbeans or other articles in which, in addition to the actual washing, itis desirable to have the washed beans delivered from the washer inparallel alignment as an aid to the placing of the samein cans or jars,as hereinafter explained.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved washer inwhich the articles to be washed will be moved in predetermined directionthrough an agitated tank of water without necessitating any large orconstant flow of water for the purpose of moving the articles. A relatedobject is to provide an improved washer in which the movement of thearticles will continue beyond the washing water and over a screen orgrating so as to permit draining or rinsing or partial drying of thewashed surfaces of the articles as a continuation of the washingprocess.

A further special object of this invention is to provide an improvedwasher for elongated articles, particularly string beans, in which theywill automatically be delivered in parallel alignment to facilitate theplacing of the same in containers, as is required in the ordinarycanning of string beans.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a washerwhich will be relatively simple in construction and operation and inwhich a large quantity of string beans, for example, can be handled witha minimum amount of manual labor.

The manner in which these objects and other advantages are attained bymeans of my device will be explained in the course of the followingdescription of the'construction and operation of the same, in whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the Washing pan with the associatedsupporting and actuating members, taken on line of Fig. 2, a portion ofthe side wall of the Washing pan being broken away to show the structureof the washing pan more clearly;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the washing pan and associated members, aportion ofthe top cover being shown broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section corresponding to lines 3-3 ofFigs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevations of the washing pan, partlyin section, illustrating the position of the same at the beginning ofeach forward and rearward vibratory movement or stroke, respectively;

Fig. 6 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view of the washing pan, withthe cover removed, illustrating the effect of the composite vibratorymovement on string beans deposited in the washing pan;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section of the rear endof the washing pan, corresponding approximately to the line l -T of Fig.6, but drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a fore-shortened fragmentary, transverse section on line 8-8of Fig. 1, being drawn to a larger scale, showing the operatingmechanism for the washing pan and the supporting mounting for one end ofthe pan; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a complete washer and drier embodying myinvention, this elevation being taken on the opposite side from whichFigs. 1, 4 and 5 were taken.

Since my washer may or may not be used in combination with the companiondrier shown in Fig. 9, I shall first describe the washer itself.

The washer includes a washing pan indicated in general by the referencecharacter I@, which is mounted for special vibratory motion in a rigidframe structure indicated in general by the reference character H. Theframe structure comprises vertical supports with longitudinal andlateral members joined in such a manner as to form ia suitably strongand rigid skeleton frame strucure.

A pair of vertical members or tubular posts i2 and 13 (Fig. 1) aresecured to each side of the frame structure and a bracket [4 isadjustably mounted on each of these four posts and is retained at thedesired height thereon by set screws. The brackets 14 support transverseshafts I5 and IS. A pair of arms ii are rockably mounted on the forwardshaft IS, the arms being located at opposite sides of the frame II, anda similar pair of arms 18 are mounted on the rear shaft 16. The mountingfor these arms will be described in more detail later.

The washing pan [0 has a flat bottom [9,

respectively.

which slopes upwardly from the rear to the front end of the pan, a pairof vertical side walls 20, and a rear wall 2!. Near the forward end ofthe washing pan the upwardly sloping bottom I!) joins a transverselyextending trough portion 22, and the side walls 20 are extendeddownwardly so as to provide end Walls for this trough portion. Beyondthe trough portion 22 a final bottom -section 23 continues for a shortdistance in the same upwardly sloping plane as the main bottom Ill. Theside walls 2!! preferably of the main bottom I9 and the finalbottom-section 23, Thus the main bottom wall t9, the

grating 24 and the final bottom section '23 constitute together acontinuous upwardly sloping surface from the rear end-of the washing panto the forward or discharging end. This 'upwardly sloping bottom'surfacein the washing pan 'is an importantelement i n my -device. A dischargingdrainpipe-25 leads from the bottom of the trough portion 22.

A stationary tubular section 26 of a telescoping fixture is rigidlysecured to the outside of each of the side walls 20 of the washing pan(see Fig. 1). The rockable arms I! have their upper ends pivotallyconnected to these tubular sections 26 A telescoping member 21 ismounted in each-tubular section 26 and the rockable arins l8arepivotally connected to these telescoping members 21 respectively. Thetelescoping members 2'lare-heldin fixed position in the tubular sections26 by 'suitable 'set screws. Thus the entire washing pan including thetrough-portion 22 and thefinal bottom section 23, is supported on thetwo pairs of rockable arms l1 and I8. The arms of each pair are parallelbut, as will be observed from Fig. 1,

the twopairs of arms'l'land; are not parallel to each other, andthe-rear pair-of arms [8 are inclined rearwardly at a a greater anglefrom; the vertical than the-forward pair of arms H. This particular andnonparallel positioning of the two pairs of rockable suppprting armsperforms a most important function to be-hereinafter explained.

' arms I! are rigidly secured to the ends of the hol- -low shaft orsleeve '29. A-metal washer 3!, freely mounted on the shaft [5, bearsagainst the outer end of the resilient bearing '38. A metal sleeve 32,which is splitlongitudinally, is placed on the end of the shaft andextends slightly beyond theend of the shaft. A screw 33, threaded in theend of theshaft l5, has a head which bears against the outer end ofthe-split sleeve 32. Thus tightening of the screw '33 results in axialcompression and radial expansion of the resilient bearing 30. Theresilient bearing 30 is prevented, under such axial compression, fromrotating on the shaft l5 and the hollow shaft or sleeve 29 is similarlyprevented from rotating on the resilient bearing 30, but, due to theresiliency of the bearing 30, the hollow shaft or sleeve 29, andwith itthe arms ll, can be given a limited oscillating motion while thesupporting "shaft remains stationary. The split sleeve is clamped in the"bracket M by a pair of clamping bolts, thus holding the shaft I5against rotation. When it is desired to adjust the screw 33, theclamping bolts are first loosened to periiiit the's'plit'sleeve 32 toslide on the shaft l5. Similar mounting elements are provided at bothends of the shaft 15, as apparent'from Fig. 8.

A pair of arms 34 and 35 (Fig. 8) are firmly clamped on the hollow shaftor sleeve 29 and these arms in turn carry a knuckle joint composed of apair of T-shaped sleeve members 36 and 3 1. The T-shaped sleeve member36 and SIaresecured onth'e arms 34 and 35 respectively by set screws.The T-shaped sleeve member 36 has a stem 36 which is threaded onits'oute'r cylindrical surface and which engages the threads in acorresponding recess formed'in the stem 31 of the other T-shaped sleevemember 31. A tubular bearing 38of resilient material is carried on thestem 3.? and'is encompassed by a clamping member 33. The clamping member39 has an integral lower portion inth'e form of a sleeve 39' which isadapted to be secured by means of a set screw'to a pitman rod 40 (Fig.1). The pitman rod 48 is attached to an annular bearing ring 51 which ismounted on an eccentric disc '42 and the eccentric disc '42 is The rearpair of arms I8 of the washing "pan are mounted on the shaft 16 in thesame manner in which the forward arms H are mounted on the shaft l5.

A pair of overlapping spaced baffle plates "44 and 45 (Fig. 7)extendacrossthewashingpan at the rear or intake end, 'oneplate beingsecuredto the rear wall 2| and the otherplate being secured to thebottom wall, and both plates secured'at their ends -tothe side walls 29of the washing pan. These two'baflle plates form "a transverselyextending louvre 'opening'through which the water, delivered" into theWashihgp'an through the inlet'dii; passes.

A hose 48 is detachably connected to the bottom end of the inlet pipe 46The re'arwall 2| of'the washing pan terminatesat'thetop'in a flange 49exte'ndiiiga slight distance inwardly.

A conveyor, indicated in general'bytherefere'nce'character '50 (Figs."land '9) has its discharging end "supported at the "top of therear endof the frame II. The conveyor includes "a motor-driven endless beltfififproviderl with suitable cleat's which "operate to convey the beans,

or other articles to be passed through the washer, from the bottom of ahopper 5| to the discharging end ofthe conveyor'abov'e the rear 'end ofthe washing pan [0 so that the beans are delivered into the washing 'panas they drop'from the top of the'conveyorbelt. The hopper "5| ispreferably formedwith a screen bottom wall 52 through which'bits oftrash, 'graveLetc, can

pass and thus be eliminated before the washing process. The conveyor hasa removable cover 53 which, at the upper discharging-end of the'conveyorf-iitsagainst-"a hood 54 extending over supporting members 55which in turn ha've their ends removably secured along the top of theframe II at the sides. The hood 54 has no direct contact with thewashing pan itself, and thus the vibratory movement of the washing panis not transmitted to the hood 54 orto any portion of the conveyor 50.

A plurality of shower pipes 55 (Fig. 2) are arranged transversely acrossthe frame I I above the grating 2d. These pipes are provided on theirunder side with perforations or small nozzles by means of which waterdelivered into the pipes can be sprayed onto the beans or other objectspassing over the grating 24. Preferably the shower pipes 56 areconnected at their ends through rotatable bearings with the supportingconnecting pipes 51, and handles are provided so that each shower pipecan be turned to cause the sprays or showers to be directed downwardlyat any desired angle on the beans or other objects traveling over thegrating 24. One of the end connecting pipes 51 is attached to a hose 5!]which in turn is connected to a suitable source of rinsing water.

In explainin the operation of the washer as thus far described, let itbe assumed that the washer is to be used for string beans. Water isdelivered into the washing pan Ill through the hose 58 and inlet 46until the washing pan is filled up to the level of the lower end of thegrating 24. As further water is delivered into the pan the overflow thenpasses into the trough 22 and is discharged through the drain 25. Whenthe motor 43 is turned on a rapid oscillating motion is imparted to thehollow shaft or sleeve 29 on the shaft IS. The arms l1 oscillate withthe sleeve 29 through a small arc and in turn impart oscillatory orvibratory movement to the washing pan l5 and thus to the rear pair ofrockable arms 18. The beans are delivered from the hopper 5! by means ofthe conveyor 55 into the rear end of the washing pan Ill and the washingprocess begins.

Due to the fact that the two pairs of rockable arms I! and [8, on whichthe washing pan I0 is mounted, are not parallel and to the fact that therear pair of arms 18 is inclined at a greater angle from the verticalthan the forward pair of arms I1, a special composite vibratory movementwill be imparted to the pan [0, producing a particular predeterminedeffect which can be best explained with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6.Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the pairs of arms I7 and I8 and ofthe pan II] at the beginning of each oscillatory movement towards theright. Fig. 5 correspondingly illustrates their positions at thebeginning of each return oscillatory movement towards the left. The armsI! and IB, as previously indicated, oscillate in comparatively smallarcs. Due to the fact that the rear pair of arms 18 slope rearwardly ata greater angle fom the vertical than the arms l1, each movement of thewashing pan to the right results in a greater upward movement beingimparted to the rear end of the pan than to the forward end, andcorrespondingly with each return movement of the pan to the left, therear end of the pan moves the same greater distance downwardly. Theupward and downward movement of the rear end of the pan would berepresented by the difference in the lengths of the two lines B, B ofFigs. 4 and 5, and the upward and downward movement of the forward endof the pan would likewise be represented by the almost negligibledifference in the lengths of the lines A, A.

When this particular composite vibratory movement is imparted to thewashing pan Ill, three interesting effects occur which can clearly beobserved, namely:

(a) Pyramids of water, oscillating up and down, cover the surface of thewater in the pan, the pyramids being highest at the rear end of the panand gradually decreasing in height towards the front end. The resultingwater turbulence causes the beans to be turned over and over and thuscauses them all to be submerged at least part of the time, which insuresthorough washing of the beans in the pan.

(b) The beans will travel from the rear end of the pan to the forwardend, regardless of whether there is a continuous flow of water throughthe pan or not and will continue this forward travel along the inclinedbottom l9, thence along the inclined grating 24, and finally along theinclined final bottom section 23 until they are discharged from theforward end of the pan.

(0) All the beans, as they travel along the washing pan, will takepositions parallel to the line of travel, as indicated in Fig. 6, andwill remain in such position constantly, even while traveling over thegrating 24 and over the final bottom section 23. Thus, when deliveredfrom the washer, the beans will all be parallel.

Dirt and foreign matter removed from the beans or other articles duringthe washing of the same in the washin pan l0 passes out through thegrating 24 and the trough drain 25 as a result of both the flow ofwashing water through the washing pan and the composite vibratorymovement of the pan. Consequently the pan is continually being clearedof the dirt, etc., washed from the beans or other articles during theoperation of my device.

As the beans pass over the grating 24 the washing water will be drainedfrom them and, if desired, they can at the same time be subjeoted tosprays of rinsing water from the shower pipes 56. I prefer to have theshowers or sprays from the shower pipes 55 directed obliquely downwardlyin the opposite direction from that in which the beans are traveling toinsure thorough rinsing and draining of the beans as they pass over thegrating 24. As long as the water sprays from the shower pipes 56 are notstrong enough to move the individual beans the travel of the beans overthe grating 24 will not be impeded by having the beans subjected to therinsing sprays.

A transversely moving conveyor belt can be stationed under thedischarging end of the final bottom section 23 of the washing pan, ifdesired, in order that the washed and rinsed and parallelly arrangedbeans can be conveyed to any convenient place; or a drier, indicated ingeneral by the reference character 6|, can be positioned beyond thewasher, as illustrated in Fig. 9, so that the beans will pass from thedischarge end of the washer on to the rear end of the drier.

The drier 6| resembles the washer in that a vibrating draining anddrying pan 62, mounted and vibrated in the same manner as the washingpan ID, has an upwardly sloping bottom 63 along which the beans travel.The bottom 53, however, consists of a screen or perforated plate inorder to permit any further water remaining on the beans to drain offand pass down into a stationary collecting pan 64, which in turn isprovided with a drain 65. Air pipes 66 extend transversely across theframe of the drier above the vibrating screen pan and warm air underbeans.

pressure, obtained from any :suitablelasource, "is

discharged from 381118511 :orifices along the loot-tom of these pipes tofacilitate the drying 20f the Upon leaving the drier the beans then pass;on to a conveyor (108E161.

[Since the edrierxscreen gpan "receives substantially "the samecomposite vibratory movement as :described with reference to the washingpan 1.0, the :beans will continue to travel along the drier in :the'same manner as previously explained, and when "discha fg ed zf-rom thedrier will all be substantially oarallel tothelrdineof-travel. In thecanning of string beans, as well known, unless the beans :are to be cutup before canning,

-it.is necessary to arrange thebeansiparallelto ieachsother andpto placethem in the can or jarso that they extend up rand -.d0wn; :otherwise itis impossible to fill :the can or .jar properly with whole string beans.vention, the beans are-automatically arranged The fact that, .with ;-myinparallel to each other greatly reduces theimanual work required inplacing the rbeans in :the .cans vor jars.

Although Lhave zdescribedmy invention as .em

.ployed specifically for the .washing .of string :beans, obviously .-itcan :be employed .in similar [manner in the washing of other smallvegetables,

fruits, berries, or other articles. :Howeverthus far I have foundthetgreatestfield of ...utility for -myinventionto beinthe .washingofstring beans, .since with my invention, ,the beans arenot only washed.so satisfactorily. and quickly .withso. little scare and supervision,but also because .of the unique feature asa result of :which'thebeansare automatically delivered 'in parallel arrangement.

'It is.onlyfairlyrecently that washing has been considered necessary..in .the processing or canning of stringlbeans. ,However, .due .tothemcreased ..use.of sprays .andspray fertilizer inithe growing of.string'lbeans, satisfactory "means for washing the; beans.are..required tomeet a. rapidly developing .need for the same.

I In all .other fruit vand vegetable washers of which I have. anyknowledge, a constant .fiow of .the water is. necessary to-keep theobjects moving properly through .the washer. .One of the main "featuresof my invention, as previously mentioned, is that the 'forwardimovementof the articles through'the washer takes place entirely independently of,anyfiow ofthe washing liquid. This "incidentally makes ,possible acertain economy iin the .use of the washing water .or

' ing upon thesslope-edf lthe'inclinefd bottom .of "the washingpanfan'rl also upon.thespcedwithwhich it? is desired to.have=,theobjects passl throughjthe washing pan. .The volume and .rate. of .the[flow of washingiwater. fromioneend of the, pan, to..the other, in :casea substantial. continuous... flow of "washing water isemployed, mayalso; Joe-a factor 1 in influencing the speed of travel. of the objectsto be washed. -Adjustmentsishould be! made for different fruits: orvegetables,-.for example; if; ripe raspberries are to be washed itisbetterwtorhave the shower sprays fIOmT-thEJShOWGI;P13388555;510pring;inzthezdirection:ofztravel:ofw therraspberries .775 waiddntakeaendr-bing t v13mm; that-10f. the

rather than a ainst their direction of travel since there w ul be :astronger iten enoyifor ther sp iberries to roll 'backwa'rds on 'the,grating-und er the shower :sprays. Qther adjustments, depending uponthe nature of the vegetablesor fruit to Joe washed will readily suggestthemselves. In carrying out my invention -,it -is necessary that the"two pairs vof-rooking arms for the washing pan should :never beparallel, that the pan be subjected to -a composite vibrationinvolvingyertical and horizontal movement, that the com- ;parative 'verticalmovement be greater at the intake end of the pan than at thedischargeend, and that the panbottom should slope upwardly towards thedischarge "end. .With such arrangement the composite vibration impartedto the :pan will produce the desired controlled travel through-the panof the articles to lee washed.

I claim:

1. In a-vegetable and fruitwasher of thecharact-er described, a washingpan having v abottom extending in a, single planeandaslopingrcontinuously upwardly from the intake rend to ;the :;dis-:charge 1end,;;means:ior delivering water, into the intake ,end of saidpan, the water overflowing :slowlyat .sa-idadischar eend, sa d nansupport d 3011 two pairs :of pivotally-mounted rocker arms located ,nearthe intake and discharge ;ends of *s i xpan riiespectively, said arms monted to swing fin substantially .parallel' vertical qplanes .parallelztothe longitudinal center line of said an, :the arms :in each pair being.1 parallel .to

seachcotherand located ,on opposite sides .of said span respectively,all of said arms being inclined from :the vertical in similar directionhot :the angle "or" zinclination of the a-rms at :said intake :end beinggreater :than :that gof "the .arms at. said discharge :end, and means.for imparting.- a-rapid .oscillatory :movement to said :pan and arms.thereby causin zsaid pan 3'00 :be oscillated: simultaneously inhorizontal;and ;vertical directions :with the amount of verticaloscillation ofusaid :panzbeing greatenatithe intake .end than at the.:discharge rend, said pairs 'of arms being so larranged cthat they willraise usaid ,pan .with i their .LfOIWQIITdESWlHELiIl the L direction of:said.;diseh a-rge -end and51owersaid pan .with their return rear--:ward; swing 111 each :oscillation, whereby the aresuiting compositeoscillator-y ;vibra.tion :of (said .IlilfilllWlll .:cause :the 1' food:articleslto be :washed, iwhen deposited atsaidintake ;en'cl, :toqbe re--peatedlydmmersedin;.the water in :said pan and :to travel tosaiddischargelend in paths=parallel rte-the longitudinal center: line ofsaid; pan.

1-". In...-a vegetablevwasher of rithercharacteri-de- 1 scribed adaptedparticularly sforstringbeans, a washing ;pan shaving 11a smooth =bottom,-.sloping l-rcontinuously upwardly ."from the .--intake end 2 to :thedischarge end, ;:means forxide'livering water zati-thel intake end.ofsaid pan; the waterv overflow- -ing.- slowly at :said. discharge end,a: grating near the f'discharge. end of .said pan, tsaid; gratingeiri'tendingzintheisame upward sloping plane-as the bottomof saidpan-andsecured to said pan, said pan supported on two pairs ofpivotally-mounted --roeker warms located near the. intake and discharge:ends of said pan: respectively, said arms amounted :to swing: insubstantially parallel-verti- 103.1 planes 'wpara'llel to thelongitudinal center -line.zof..said-pan, the arms in each pairbeing.parallel :to eachootheriand locatedon opposite --.sidesof: saidpanrespectively,:-all ot-said arms be- :ing ;:inclined from: theverticals-in similar direction but the angle of inclination.ofathearmsat rearward swing in each oscillation, whereby the resultingcomposite oscillatory vibration of said pan will cause the string beansto be washed, when deposited at said intake end, to be repeatedlyimmersed in the water in said pan and to travel to said discharge endand thence over said grating in paths parallel to the longitudinalcenter line of said pan and to arrange themselves in parallel alignmentduring such travel.

3. A vegetable and fruit washer of the character described including awashing pan having a bottom sloping continuously upwardly from theintake end to the discharge end, a grating near the discharge end ofsaid pan, said grating extending in the same upward sloping plane as thebottom of said pan and secured to said pan, means for delivering waterinto the intake end of said pan, the water in said pan overflowingslowly through said grating, means below said grating for carrying offthe overflow water from said pan, said pan supported on two pairs ofpivotally-mounted rocker arms located near the intake and discharge endsof said pan respectively, said arms mounted to swing in substantiallyparallel vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal center line ofsaid pan, the arms in each pair being parallel to each other and 10-cated on opposite sides of said pan respectively,

all of said arms being inclined from the vertical in similar directionbut the angle of inclination of the arms at said intake end beinggreater than that of the arms at said discharge end, and means forimparting a rapid oscillatory movement to said pan and arms, therebycausing said pan to be oscillated simultaneously in horizontal andvertical directions with the amount of vertical oscillation of said panbeing greater at the intake end than at the discharge end, said pairs ofarms being so arranged that they will raise said pan with their forwardswing in the direction of said discharge end and lower said pan withtheir return rearward swing in each 0scillation, whereby the resultingcomposite oscillatory vibration of said pan will cause the food articlesto be washed, when deposited at said intake end, to be repeatedlyimmersed inthe water in said pan and to travel to said discharge end andthence over said grating in paths parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said pan.

ARTHUR B. McLAUCI-ILAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 370,822 Sage Oct. 4, 1887 941,862Dibert Nov. 30, 1909 1,010,239 Cox Nov. 28, 1911 1,188,817 Outlaw June27, 1916 1,573,387 French Feb. 16, 1926 1,772,466 Popper Aug. 12, 19301,823,744 Kin Sept. 15, 1931 2,195,371 Moore Mar. 26, 1940 2,380,881Trostler July 31, 1945

